December 2016 Around Town

Sean Evans named president, CEO of Junior Achievement

The Board of Directors of Junior Achievement of Idaho announced the appointment of Sean Evans as president and CEO effective Oct. 13.

Most recently, Evans served as the vice president of sales and marketing for the Idaho Stampede, the development league affiliate of the NBA Utah Jazz. Before that, Sean had an almost 20-year career in the newspaper industry serving as publisher for several newspapers in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Idaho.

Sean studied business administration at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and has called Boise home since 2009 when he moved here to manage the Idaho Business Review.

Active in the community, he has spent two terms on the Idaho Nonprofit Center Board, having served there as president in 2013. He also served on the Boise Metro Chamber Board from 2012–14, and as communications co-chairman for the Boise Valley Economic Partnership’s Competitive Edge Initiative in 2011, and he is a graduate of Leadership Boise.

Boise, Eagle residents inducted into UI’s Academy of Engineers

The University of Idaho’s College of Engineering inducted eight members, including a Boise resident and an Eagle resident, into its Academy of Engineers. The academy, now in its sixth year, honors eminent engineers who are UI alumni or engineers deeply connected to UI’s legacy of global engineering impact. Members are recognized for their personal contributions to engineering achievement, leadership, engineering education and a lifetime commitment to advancing the quality of life through service to the profession and society.

This year’s academy inductees included William Eisinger of Boise (bachelor’s in electrical engineering, 1975) and Jim W. Linford of Eagle (bachelor’s in mechanical engineering, 1971).

“One of the distinguishing things about having the new class of Academy of Engineers come to campus this year is that they have the opportunity to meet our inaugural class of students participating in our Grand Challenge Scholars Program, ” said Larry Stauffer, dean of the College of Engineering. “It’s a full circle of our college’s best and brightest.”

Local Hearing Care Professional scores top honors at Audigy Team Summit

Deborah Page, a back office staff member at Audigy Certified Treasure Valley Hearing and Balance, has received Audigy Group’s “Outstanding First Impression-Individual“ Award for exceptional service to patients—for the third consecutive year.

The award—which recognizes the individual whose sense of leadership inspires, elevates and sets the pace for the entire practice—was presented during the 2016 Audigy Team Summit gathering of hearing care professionals in Las Vegas.

“Getting this award is especially satisfying when you know your whole team demonstrates a commitment to excellence every day and this accomplishment would not be possible without the support of a team,” Page said. “Helping our patients hear their best starts with expertise but also belief, which inspires the people we serve.”

Treasure Valley Hearing and Balance has been in the Treasure Valley for 26 years with locations in Boise, Meridian and Nampa.

Boise Regional REALTOR members selected for National Association’s committees

Boise Regional REALTORS will be well represented as National Association of REALTORS 2017 committee appointments.

BRR members Julie DeLorenzo of Keller Williams Realty Boise and Carey Farmer of Group One Sotheby’s International Realty will serve as directors on NAR’s board. Breanna Vanstrom was appointed to a national committee and will serve on NAR’s 2017 Association Executive Young Professionals Network Advisory Board.

Local high school seniors receive scholarships to BSU

John V. Evans Jr., president and chief executive officer of D.L. Evans Bank is pleased to announce that Natalie Perdew, Hannah Sturtevant and Brooke Mickelson were awarded $250 scholarships to Boise State University.

Perdew and Sturtevant are 2016 graduating seniors of Rocky Mountain High School, while Mickleson is a 2016 graduating senior at Timberline High School. The students have demonstrated academic excellence, community service and had additional outstanding contributions to their school.

Every year, D.L. Evans Bank awards scholarships to each of the following colleges/universities: Idaho State University, Boise State University, College of Idaho, College of Southern Idaho, University of Idaho, College of Western Idaho and Treasure Valley Community College.

The Ada County Highway District hosted its 15th annual Charity Golf Tournament at The Club at Spurwing, raising $160,000 for Operation Warm Heart.

Operation Warm Heart is a nonprofit organization that provides emergency assistance with non-repayable grants to offset financial hardship and crisis situations for active duty, Army and Air Force Reserve and National Guard personnel and their families, and civilian personnel at the Mountain Home Air Force Base. The charity provides assistance for financial hardship, travel, food or bills after service members have exhausted other options.

This year, more than 144 golfers participated.

“This is for such a good cause, and it’s an honor to volunteer every year as part of this event,” said ACHD Commissioner Sara M. Baker, who helped run the putting contest.

The charity golf tournament included two Patriot sponsors, the Micron Foundation and the Julius C. Jeker Foundation. There were also four major sponsors: Holland & Hart attorneys, Jacksons Food Stores, St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center and Van Auker Companies.

City of Boise highlights ‘Start Your Business Tool’ initiative

The city of Boise has a new Start Your Business Tool, which is designed to streamline the process for starting a new business in Boise. It is part of a much broader “high-touch meets high-tech” resident experience initiative underway at Boise City Hall.

The Start Your Business Tool is a “one-stop-shop” online service that reduces the time it takes for new local businesses to apply for the permits and licenses needed to get up-and-running. With the right information, some business can do this in just one day.

“We are looking at technology tools that will improve the experience our citizens have with their city government. This is a perfect example of that,” said Boise Mayor David Bieter. “We know entrepreneurs are essential job creators in a vibrant economy.”

In August 2015, the city of Boise was among 27 cities nationwide to receive a $50,000 grant from the Small Business Administration’s Startup in a Day initiative to help streamline processes for new businesses. The city used that funding to create the tool.